Yoma 16a
יומא ט״ז ע״א
Learn Yoma 16a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
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Topic
Who authored מסכת מדות? רב הונא says רבי אליעזר בן יעקב and the גמרא brings proofs, but רב אדא בר אהבה suggests the low eastern wall could follow רבי יהודה.
Overview
On the previous amud, the גמרא found that two sources disagree about the chambers of the בית המוקד. This amud finishes quoting that list from מסכת מדות. רב הונא then resolves the conflict: מדות was taught by רבי אליעזר בן יעקב, who holds his own view. The first proof is a משנה about the four chambers of the עזרת נשים. In it, רבי אליעזר בן יעקב says 'I forgot' what the fourth chamber was used for, which shows he is the one reporting the list. The גמרא then brings a second proof from the low eastern wall, which let the כהן burning the פרה אדומה on הר המשחה see the entrance of the היכל. Adding up all the steps shows that only רבי אליעזר בן יעקב's extra step and דוכן make the entrance rise above the 20-אמה gate, so only his view explains why the wall had to be low. רב אדא בר אהבה rejects this proof. He says the low wall could instead follow רבי יהודה, who places the מזבח in the center of the עזרה. His explanation continues on the next amud.
Opening lines
דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית הִיא לִשְׁכָּה
The southeast one was the chamber
שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בָּהּ לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים.
in which they would make the showbread.
מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית — בָּהּ גָּנְזוּ בֵּית חַשְׁמוֹנַאי
The northeast one: in it the Hasmoneans stored away
אַבְנֵי מִזְבֵּחַ שֶׁשִּׁקְּצוּם מַלְכֵי גוֹיִם.
the altar stones that the gentile kings had defiled.
The steps (13)
- StatementThe remaining chambers of the בית המוקד
- Resolutionרב הונא: מסכת מדות follows רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
- ProofThe משנה about the chambers of the עזרת נשים
- Proofרבי אליעזר בן יעקב: I forgot the fourth chamber
- ProofFurther support: the low eastern wall and the פרה אדומה
- ProofGate height and the first set of steps
- ProofMore steps up to the עזרת ישראל and the מזבח
- ProofThe extra step and platform of רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
- ProofOnly רבי אליעזר בן יעקב explains why the entrance was hidden
- ProofUnder the רבנן, half an אמה of the entrance would still show
- ProofSo it must be רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
- Rejectionרב אדא בר אהבה: it could be רבי יהודה
- Proofרבי יהודה: the מזבח stood in the center and was 32 אמות